I was happy at one point. I never noticed how I received unusual stares from adults or how I was the only girl with dark hair and narrow eyes in a class of braided blonde hair and wide blue or green eyes. It wasn’t until late elementary that it escalated into bullying. “Its just a joke”, the kids said. It wasn’t funny. I ended up with bruises on my soul and my ribs. I hated everyone because I couldn’t trust them.
Junior high happened. I was just as lost, unwilling to trust. I met this guy who I thought was my friend… but after I told him that I liked another girl, he told. I switched schools.
High school introduced a new stress. My parents started fighting. Cold shoulders, silent glares. I found myself being compared to others, and I hated it. My honours with distinctions changed to just honours.